JONSON, BEN, or BENJAMIN, an English dramatist, was b., according to the most accounts, at Westminster, though one authority says Warwickshire, in 1574. The Scottish poet Drummond of Hawthornden states that Jonson told him his grand father was a Seotchman of Annandale, who settled in Carlisle, and his father a clergy who died before Ben was born. The latter received his education at Westminster school, where he had for his preceptor the illustrious Camden. Our knowledge of his -career from this point until the period when he became famous as an author is very -obscure. It is said that his mother took a second husband, a bricklayer (but this is -doubtful), and that Ben was forced very unwillingly to assist his stepfather. The story of his residence (for a few months) at St. John's college, Cambridge, may be an authentic tradition, but it really rests on no better evidende than the present of some books now in the library of that college with his name inscribed on them. If he went thither at all he was soon forced to return home for want of means; but his antipathy to the trade of a bricklayer was so great that he. finally ran off, and served as a soldier in the Low Countries for sometime. After coming back to England he tried the profession of an. actor, but did not succeed, whereupon he started as a writer for the stage. Even im this capacity he did not rapidly acquire a reputation. The first piece that procured hirn a name was Every Man in his humor (1598). The best of his subsequent productions are Volpone, or the Fox (1605), The Silent Woman (1609), and The Alchemist (1610). These•
are comedies full of rich, dry, carefully-elaborated "humor." He also composed two. tragedies, Sejanus (1603) and Catiline's Conspiracy (1611), on which he—but only he—set. a high value. His Masques, written for the courts of James and Charles, are occasion ally very graceful. For many years Jonson was in receipt of a pension from these monarchs, but his careless and profuse habits involved him constantly iu difficulties, and he died in poverty Aug. 6, 1637. Jonson's writings are not much relished now, and, never were, even in his own day. There is an air of pedantry about his happiest efforts. that spoils their effect. Yet, on the other hand, he possesses a rude force, and a humor which, if heavy and saturnine, is also genitive and pungent. Occasionally, too, his lyrics show a lightness and delicacy almost inexplicable, considering the ordinary and cumbrous movement of his faculties. The influence which he exercised over the wits of his time is a proof of the general strength and talent of the man. Shakespeare alone: was reckoned his match in those wit-combats held at the Mermaid tavern. • He was an immense drinker, and his potations do not seem to have improved either his temper or his constitution. The best edition of his works is that by Gifford, accompanied by tt. biographical memoir (Loud. 9 vols., 1816; new ed., with introd. and appendices by lieut.col. F. Cunningham, 1875, Bickers & Son).